Robinson Goes 4-for-8 in 2-0 Day for Softball; Owls Win At Butler 7-3 and 5-2

Sunday, April 21

Indianapolis, Ind.

12 p.m.

Temple University

Butler

Photo by: Dave Schofield

Robinson Goes 4-for-8 in 2-0 Day for Softball; Owls Win At Butler 7-3 and 5-2

4.21.13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After dropping two games yesterday at Saint Louis, the Temple softball team rebounded with a twinbill sweep of Atlantic 10 newcomer Butler on Sunday afternoon at BU Softball Field in Indiana, winning 7-3 and 5-2. Senior Ali Robinson was 4-for-8 in the contests.

In the opener, it was a 0-0 game until the Owls took advantage of three hits, one error, three walks and a hit by pitch in the third inning to plate four runs for a 4-0 lead. Devynne Nelons broke the scoreless tie with a leadoff homerun. The next run came when Julia Kastner, who had walked earlier, scored on a throwing error after Sarah Prezioso had singled to shortstop. A Kelsey Dominik walk and a Leah Lucas hit by pitch with the bases loaded led to the other two runs.

TU increased it to 6-0 in the top of the fourth with a Robinson RBI single to shortstop and another score on a throwing error, both coming with two outs. The host team, however, got those two right back in the bottom of the frame, and added one more in the bottom of the fifth to cut it to 6-3.

Stephanie Pasquale's solo homerun to lead off the sixth was the last score from either team, creating the final score of 7-3.

Dominik (10-3) picked up the win in the complete-game effort, allowing 12 hits but only three runs, fanning five and walking one. Kristin Gutierrez (6-10) lasted just 3.2 innings in the loss, giving up five hits and six runs, striking out seven, but also walking five.

Robinson went 3-for-4 in the contest with a double, while Nelons went 2-for-4 with a double and the homer, and Lacey McKeon was 2-for-5.

Game two featured a lot more defense and solid pitching through the first six innings and the teams carried a 1-1 tie into the top of the seventh. Temple's run came in the sixth when McKeon, who led off with a single, scored on a wild pitch. The Bulldogs took the early lead with a run in the fourth on Maria Leichty's single that brought in Audrey East, who had doubled to start the inning.

The Cherry & White put some separation between themselves and the hosts with four runs in the top of the seventh, collecting four hits and receiving two free passes in the frame. Kastner started the rally with an RBI single to left field and one batter later, with the bases loaded, Prezioso drew a walk for the second run of the inning. Pasquale drove in the final two with a single to center.

Butler got one back on a sacrifice fly in its final at-bat, and had a runner on with the top of the lineup up to make it interesting, but pitcher Jessica Mahoney got Krosley Ogden to pop out to the catcher to end the game.

Mahoney (4-10) allowed six hits and two runs, while walking none and striking out eight in the complete-game victory. Jenny Esparza (4-5) got the loss, despite fanning 11. She gave up seven hits, five runs and walked four.

McKeon led TU with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

The Owls (21-20, 9-5 A10) head to Villanova for a pair of non-conference games on Tuesday with game one beginning at 3 p.m. Butler falls to 18-22, 7-7 A10.

For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball, and www.twitter.com/Temple_Softball.